Brighton residents urge pause on synthetic turf, cite health, environmental and process concerns

At the Dec. 16 Brighton Central School District Board of Education meeting, several residents urged the board to pause or reconsider a planned synthetic turf installation, citing health, environmental and procedural concerns.

Helen Frank of Brighton told the board that microplastics research has expanded sharply since 2015 and warned that "even plastics and synthetic materials without PFAS and POPs can still produce secondary microplastics through weathering and environmental stress." She asked where the district would publish the specific materials to be used in the turf.

Bridget Platania, a Brighton parent with pediatric health training, told the board she reviewed literature and queried local environmental experts before speaking. Platania highlighted short- and long-term safety questions including orthopedic and…